Sending apparatus for pneumatic-despatch systems.



SENDING APPARATUS FOR PNEUMATIC DESP-ATGH SYSTEMS.

(N0 M0del.)

Gldiil (Application filed July 31, 1901.)

7 Sheets-Sheet l.

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Patented May 20, I902 B. C. BATCHELLER.

(Application filed July 31, 1901.)

7 Sheets$heet 3.

NE NORRS PETERS CO FHOTQUTHO WASHINGTON D C SENDING APPARATUS FOR PNEUMATIC DESPATGH SYSTEMS.

(No Model.)

No. 700,007. Patented May 20, 1902. B. c. BATfiHELLER. SENDING APPARATUS FOR PNEUMATIC DESPATGH SYSTEMS.

(Application filed July.81, 1901.)

7 SheetsSheat (No Model.)

man mm m: NORRIS Prvzns c0. PHO1D-LlTMO-. WASHINGTON. a. c.

No. 700,607. Patented May 20, I902.

B. C. BATCHELLEB.

SENDING APPARATUS FOR PNEUMATIC DESPATOH SYSTEMS.

(Application filed July 31, 1901.) V

7 Sheets-$heet 5.

(No Model.)

w M w 1 r; mums Farms w Pncmnumb. WASNINGTON. 0. cv

Patented May 20, I902 B. C. BATCHELLER. SENDING APPARATUS'FOR PNEUMATIC DESPATCH SYSTEMS.

(Application filed July 31, 1901.)

7 Sheets-Sheet 6.

(No Model.)

No. 700,607. Patented May 20, I902.

B. C. BATCHELLER.

SENDING APPARATUS FOR PNEUMATIC DESPATCH SYSTEMS.

(Application filed July 31, 1901.) (No Model.) 7 Sheets-Sheet 7.

1173756655. m/z/rmm i 40; 7 M

THE Nunnls Pawns cm. WOTO-LIYNIL, wumnsi'on, n. c.

UNITED STATES PATENT omen BIRNEY O. BATCHELLER, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

SENDING APPARATUS FDR PNEUMATlC-DESPATCH SYSTEMS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 700,607, dated May 20, 1902. Application filed July 31, 1901. Serial No. 70,328. (No model.)

- a true and exact description, reference be.-

ing had to the accompanying drawings, which form a part thereof.

My invention relates to pneumatic-(10 spatch systems, and especially to the send ing mechanism through which carriers are in-.

serted into the transmission-tubes.

The object of my invention is to provide a' sender of great simplicity of construction and of efiective action; and, broadly speaking, my.

invention consists in connecting with the transmission-tube a sender-chamber having inner and outer gates and provided with means whereby the insertion of a carrier sets in operation mechanism which admits to the sender the pressure of the transmission-tube, so as to equalize the pressure on the inner gate and permit it to open for the entrance of the carrier into the transmission-tube. 13y preference my sender is also provided with mechanism whereby the exit of the carrier sets in operation means for admitting atmospheric pressure to the sender, so as to relieve the outer gate of pressure.

My invention is capable various forms and modifications, some of which I have illustrated in the drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a side elevation of a sender embodying my invention. Fig. 2 is also aside elevation of the same apparatus, showing it in longitudinal section. Fig. 3 is a crossseetion on the line 3 3 of Fig. 2. Fig. 4. is a plan View of one of the gates; Fig. 5, a sectional elevation of a time-lock escapement for holding the inner gate closed; Fig. 6, a sectional elevation of a valve used in connection with the time-lock, and Fig. 7 a crosssectionaliviewon the line 7 7 of Fig.2. Fig. 8 is a longitudinalsectional elevation of a sender embodying my invention, but employing sliding instead of swinging gates, as shown in the construction of the earlier figures. Fig. 9 is a sectional elevation of still another of application inmodification of my sending apparatus, Fig. 10 being a cross-sectional view on the line 10 10 of Fig. 9; Fig. 11, acentral longitudinal section through the valve-casing employed in the vmodificationofFi-g. 9, showing connected parts on a larger scale; and Fig. 12 is a crosssec'tion on the line 12 l2of Fig. 11. Fig. 13 is a sectional elevation-of still another modification of my improved sending device, Fig. 14 being a face view of the portion of the lsen'der-casting to whichthe valve is attached, and Fig.' 15 in part a sectional elevation through the valves, showing in connection.

therewith connected part-s all on a larger scale.

A indicates the transmission-tube,to the end of which, as shown, is attached the sender-- chamber, the upper end of the transmissiontube being enlarged, as indicated at a in all of the modifications except that of Fig. 8, to

give room for the movement of the swinging gate.

Aindicates the connecting-pipe, through which air is supplied to the transmission-tube, this pipe connecting with an annular chamber A which in turn communicates with the transmission-tube through slots a B indicates the sender-chamber, preferably made in the form of a tube and Where swinging gates are employed having an enlargement 1) at the top to permit the proper movement of the upper gate.

B andB indicate the seats upon which the upper and lower gates rest when closed, these seats being in the case of the modification of Fig. 8 replaced by guideways b and b B indicates a chute at the top of the sender, upon which the carrier is rested, with its lower end resting upon the upper gate.

O is the pivot-shaft to which is attached the arm 0', supporting the upper gate, (indicated at 0 0 indicating a counterweight by means of which the gate is normally closed. The construction of the lower gate is similar, D indicating the pivot-shaft to which the arm D is attached, said arm supporting the gate, D and D indicating the counterweight for holding the gate closed. 'These features are practically the same in all the modifications illustrated except that of Fig. 8, which will be referred to later on.

In the construction shown in Fig. 2 the counterweight projection C has attached to connection between the conduit E- and the it a finger (indicated at G which operates valve-chamber'E and :the closing of the gate a valve-actuating lever to be hereinafter described.

In all the modifications shownv there is illustrated or indicated a conduit E, which leads to a chamber or receptacle containing air under substantially the same pressure as that in the transmission-tube and preferably, as shown, to the transmission-tube or a part immediately connected therewith. This conduit connects through a valve-casing with a cond uit E ,which leads into the sender-chamber, and the valve-chamber has also a connection (indicated at E or a leading to the outer air. The valve moving in the valvechamber is normally in the position connecting the conduit E with the atmospheric connection and closing the connection wit-h the conduit E and is actuated by mechanism in turn controlled by the entrance and exit of the carrier from the sender and whereby the introduction of the carriershifts the valve to cutoff the atmospheric connection and connect the conduits E and E and whereby also'the passage of the carrier from the sender restores the normal position of the valve, as above described.

In the modification illustrated in Figs. 2, 3, and 7 the conduit E (see Fig. 7) connects with a cylindrical chamber E, through which anannular port leads to an annular chamber a connecting. at one portion with a chamber E surrounding the cylindrical valve-chamber E and communicating with the interior of'said chamber through a port E Also surrounding the chamber E is the chamber E communicatinggwith it'through a port E and connecting also with the atmospheric connection, (indicated at E E indicates a chamber connecting with the sender end of .the valve-chamber E and with-the conduit E. G isiaicylindrical valve moving in the chamber E and having transverse passages formed through it, the movement of the valve being SL101]. as to alternately close the ports E and E G,.which, through a connecting-rod G is secured .to a pivoted finger G projecting into thesender-tube, a springGholding the parts normally in the position shown in Fig. 2.

Returning now to the mechanism shown in Fig. 7, F is a valve having. transverse passages formed in it, said valve movingin the cylindrical chamber. E and being actuated by a'rod F, which (see Fig. 2) is connected at top. with a bell-crank lever F F pivoted at E and actuated; in one direction by the weight'ofthe valve aided, if necessary, by a springF (shown inFig. 1) and in the other direction. by the heel O connected'with the upper gate. I I

The operation of. the described mechanism is:as1follows: The openingot' the. gate@ bythe insertion of a carrier retracts the finger C permitting the valveF to move. down to the position indicated in Fig. 7, closingthe This valve is actuated by a valve-stem.

C after the insertion of the carrier by means of the counterweight C raises valve F, so as to connect the specified parts. The carrier entering the sender comes in contact with the finger G depressing it and shifting the valve G to the position in which it closes the port E and opens the port E so that as soon as the gate 0 has closed and-the valve F been thereby raised the pressure of the air in the transmission-tube is communicated through the conduit E to the interior of the sender, thus equalizing the pressure on each side of the gate B so that the weight of the carrier resting on said gate is sufficient to open it and permit the carrier to fall into the transmission-tube, the gate D closing at once after the passage of the carrier. The. exit of the carrier from the sender also permits-the spring G 'to restore thevalve G tothe position shown in Fig. 2, closing the port E and opening the port E whereby tlie conduit E is placed in communication-with the e:x-, haust E and the pressure in the sender restored to atmospheric pressure, thus'equa-lizing the pressure on both sides of. the'upper gate and bringing the apparatus to condition for the insertion of a new carrier.

While referring to the construction shown.

in Figs. 1 to 7, I will state that it is advisable into the transmission-tube. too closetogether,

and for this purpose I have shown in this modification of my inventiona locking-.bar-J Fig. 2, which is normally in the position shown in Fig. 2 and out of the path; of the lower gate. This locking-bar. is attached to the rock-shaft J which in turnhas attached to it the lever J, (see Fig. 1,) which is held in normal position by the weight of the rod' 1 and connected parts which rest upon it through the collar 1 this weight being sufficient to compress the springf (shown in Fig. 2,) which spring when not opposedby a superior force presses the locking-bar J 2 out, so that it comes beneath the gate B and prevents its being opened. In addition to the weight of the rodI and its connections. it-is preferably presseddownward by a springl V (shown in Figs. 1 and 5,) and the upperv end of the rod. is connected through a plate 1 with a diaphragm Ihsituated in the diaphragm-chamber I, said chamber having an exhaust-passage I at its top, closed byaballvalve Hand an entrance-passagel, regulated in area by a needle-valve I I indicatesian opening leading into the bottom-of the diaphragm-chamber, with which it is connected, a conduit H leading into the lower part of a valve-casing H (shown in'secti'onin Fig. 6,) this casing having an'exhaust-passage H ,near its top and a port H which connects by a conduit in. any convenient way with the transmission-tube or aconnected port. H

indicates the valve moving in the chamber EH and having transverse apertures through.

it, said valve being actuated by a rod H connected by a connecting-bar H with a crankpin H on a plate H, secured to the pivot shaft D ofthe lower gate.

The operation of the locking device is as follows: The normal position of the valve H is as shown in Fig. 6, the normal position of the diaphragm androd I as shown in Figs. 1 and 5, and the normal position of the locking-bar J as shown in Fig. 2, the conduit H leading to the bottom of the diaphragmchamber, communicating freely through the casing 11 and hollow valve H with the exhaust-port H When the inner gate B opens, the turningof the shaft D, to which it is attached, forces the crank-pin H upward, pushing the valve H upward in the casing, so that it closes the port H and opensthe port H,

the air under pressure passingthen through the casing and conduit H into the bottom of the diaphragm chamber, forcing the diaphragm up to the top of the chamber and lifting the rod H the air in the diaphragmchamber escaping through the passage 1 The closing of the gate B restores the valve to the position shown in Fig. 6 and connects the bottom of the diaphragm-chamber with the exhaust. The spring 1" then draws the diaphragm downward, but only with such rapidity as is permitted by the adjustment of the valve 1 which regulates the admission of air to the top of the diaphragm-chamber. In the meanwhile the locking-bar J 2 projects out under the bottom of the gate B preventing it from opening until the diaphragm has passed to the bottom of the chamber and the collar 1 by pressing on the lever-arm J, has restored the locking-bar to the position shown in Fig. 2. In this way a definite interval must necessarily pass between the introduction of consecutive carriers into the transmission-tube.

By preference I also provide a time-escapement for preventing .the introduction of carriers to the sender with too great rapidity,

and this I accomplish by the simple expedi-.

ent of restricting the exhaust-passage, by which the sender-chamber Bis placed in communication with the atmosphere. shown in Fig. 3, the exhaust-passage E may be provided with a regulating-valve of any kind. As shown, the exhaust passage is formed with lateral passages S S,'connecting with its central perforation S, and a cap S has connected with it a needle-valve S the cap screwing onthe end ofthe exhaust-passage and the needle-valve being adjustable in this passage as indicated. The operation of this restricted orifice however construct ed is as follows: It has already been explained how the introduction of the carrier into the sender is made the point of communication by which the pressure of the transmissiontube is communicated'to the sender-chamber and how the passage of the carrier out of the sender-chamber is made to restore communication between said chamber and the atmos- Thus, as

. the gates.

phere, this communication being effected through the escape-passage of exhaust E Obviously ifthis passage be restricted the air under pressure in the chamber will'only escape gradually, andthen the gate 0 will be held closed for a definite period after the carrier has escaped from the sender.

Referring next to the modification of my invention illustrated in Fig. 8, the mechanism illustrated is substantially the same as in the previously-described construction, except that in place of the swinging gates the sender is provided with sliding gates (indicated at c and d moving in guideways, (indicated at b and b These sliding gates are connected by links K and k with the levers K 7c, pivoted at K k, and provided with projecting fingers K 10 which extend out into the path of the carrier, passing to and through the sender-chamber. The levers and gates are held in the position indicated in Fig. 8 by springs, (indicated at'K and k which'of course are the full equivalents for the counterweights shown in connection with the swinging gates. It will be obvious that a carrier introduced into the chuteB will by pressing on the finger K cause the gate a to open,

said gate closing immediately after the entrance of the carrier by the action ofa spring K. The carrier then acts on the valve-actuating finger G as in the former construction,

and coming in contact with the finger opens the gate (1 said gate closing in its passage under the action of the spring 70 and the operation of the valve being precisely the same as in the previously-described construction.

I will state here that while my invention is especially-intended for use in pneumatic-de-' spatch systems working with air underpressure it is perfectly well adapted for use with vacuum systems, this being clearly evident by a consideration-of the constructionshown in Fig. 8, which will work'j ust-as wellwhether the air-current passing through the transmission-tube A is above or below atmospheric pressure, the only difference being that the connection of the transmission-tube with the sender-chamber reduces the pressure in that chamber and the connection of the senderchamber with the exhaust or atmospheric connection IE will in the case of'the vacuum system serve to admit atmospheric air to the chamber instead of permitting the high pressure in said chamber to fall to atmospheric pressure, as previously described.

Referring next to the modification illustrated in Figs. 9 to 12, inclusive, Iwould state in the first place that this construction is de signed to illustrate thefeasibility of dispensing with the valve-actuating finger G and-0f regulating theadmission and exhaust of airto the sender-chamber by the movement of The pivoted shaft 0 of the gate C has attached to one of its ends a block (indicated at 0 best shown in Fig. 11) held in place on the shaft by a set-screwO and supporting a pivot-pin C and another pin (l D of the lowergate has a similar attachmentto its corresponding end, the-blockbeing indicated at D, the set-screw at D, the-fixed pins at D and D the bell-crank leverat-Z Z, and the spring at Zi. The sender-chamberis provided, as in the former constructions, with air-ports E and E1 connecting through a valve-casing, which. is substantially like the one previously described and those illustrated in Figs. 10, 11, and 12, the intermediate chamber (indicated at c communicating through a lateral outlet e with the conduit E, as best shown in Fig.10,while the-upper chamber. (indicated at E communicateswith the conduitE p, and the lower chamber e communicates with the exhaust connection 6 e indicates-the cylindrical valve-chamber, communicating at one end with the chamber 6 and through the ports 6 and e with thecham-v hers eiand 6 9 indicates the hollow'pistonvalve; workingin thechamber e and-actuated by a; valve-rod g", properly guided, so asato come closeto the blocks 0 and D and having attached to it blocks M and M',which areacted nponby thelever-arms L and Z, as will bedescribed. The rod-7g has also attached'to it. a

block M to which'is pivotally attached one arm of the lever M pivoted on. a standarda-t v M andhaving attached to its free-end acounterweight M the fHHClBiODOf WhiCh is to balance the weight of the valve and valve-rod; In'operation the opening of the gate 0 turning the pivoted shaft'O, causes the block C to'rotate' toward'theleft and raises the point of the-lever-arm L above the block M, the spring L yieldingzto permit the lifting of the lever-arm ,L, and as soon as it passes the block M forcing the point of this lever-arm outover the topof the block. The closing of the gate 0 rotating the block 0 in the oppositedirection, causes the lever-arm L to press down upon the block M, moving it, the

valve-rodig, and the valve 9 down, so as tov close the port e and open the port 6 thusconnecting the conduits E and E and permitting the air under pressure in the transmission-tube to fillthe sender-chamber. The opening of the gate B causes the arm Z to act in, a: precisely similar-manner upon the block L",,the closing of, the gate liftingthe block, valve-rod, and valve to the position shown in Fig. 11, cutting off the admission of highpressure air from the conduit E, and placing the sender-chamber, through-the conduit E the hollow valve G, the port e chamber; e and passage e in communication with the atmosphere.

Referring next to the modification illustratedin-Figs. 13 to 15,inclusive,I'would state in the first place that this modification, is

simply-an illustration of the feasibility of applying compressed air to shift the valve regu- 0 with the port N containing air under pressure.

shaft of the lower gate.-

lating the admission and exhaust of air from the sender-chamber. Theqvalve: and" valvesubstantially the same as-those illustrated in chamber N, having leading into it the ports N N and N the ports N and N communieating with valve-casings,- (indicated at 0 and 0,) the latter, being indicated in section and containing the two chambers O and 0 con- ;necting through a valve-seat 0 the chamber 0 connecting through aconduit O with the the port N, which, asdoes thesimilar chamber in the casin g 0, connects through the pipe The chamber 0 connects through a port 0 with some chamber The intermediate port (indicatedi at N) connects through a branch pipe (indicated at S) with the portsQ q? ofthe'two cylinder-chambers Q q, the upper one being shown in section, illustrating how each chamber is provided with a piston Q, which is held up normally by a-spring Q and'is provided with a rod Q connecting, through a pin with aslot R un- "der the rod R, pivotally connected to a crank- .pin 0 secured in a disk 0 fastened to the pivot-shaft0 of the upper gate, the similar construction connected with the lower cylinder q being similarly attached to the pivoted P indicates a valve normally held to the seat '0 by a spring P and havingattached to ita spindle'P', which projects through thecasing and is adapted to be knocked by the end B of the rod R, as will be hereinafter described. A rearward prolongation of the valve-spindle (indicated at P extends into and closes when the valve is lifted from its seat, the rear opening indicated at O in the valve-casing. v

Passing now to the operation of the device illustrated, the normal position of the parts is as shown in Fig. ,15. The opening of the gate 0 drawsthe rod R toward the right until its end B clears the end of the valve-spindle P, whereupon it is-lifted to a position in which-it comes directly opposite to the end of the valve-spindle by the action of the spring Q The closing of the gate 0 forces the rod R backward, and asits end abuts against the valve-spindlethe spindle and valve are also forcedbackward, openingthe port'O and closing the port 0 bytthe entrance of the spindle extension P The air under pressure then passes from the chamber 0 to the chamber O and through thepipe 0 and port N into the left-hand end of the cylinder N,

with the conduit E through the valve-casing, permitting the high-pressure air to enter and fill the sender-chamber, so as to balance casing illustrated in section in Fig. 15fa-re the pressure on the lower gate 13*. As soon as the piston N has moved the required distance its rear end uncovers the port N so that thehigh-pressure air in the cylinder N will pass through the pipe S and its upper branch into the top of the cylinder Q, where, acting upon the piston Q, it depresses this piston to the position shown in Fig. 15, forcing the rod R downward until it clears the end of the valve-spindle P, whereupon the valve P is forced to its seat, closing the connection between the chambers O and O and permitting the high-pressure air in the cylinder N and its connections to exhaust through the port 0, which is left open by the movement of the spindle P The opening of the gate D through a precisely similar system of mechanism admits high-pressure air to the right-hand end of the cylinder N, forcing the piston N toward the left and shifting the position of the valve g to the point illustrated in Fig. 15, which results in placing the interiorof the sender-chamber, through the conduit E and the valve-casing, in communication with the exhaust a The shifting of the piston N toward the left places the port N in communication with the right-hand end of the cylinder N, permitting the high-pressure air to pass through the pipe S and its lower branch into the cylinder q, where it acts precisely as in the cylinder Q to out ott' the supply of high-pressure air to the cylinder N and to place said cylinder in communication with the exhaust.

Having now described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

- 1. Inapneumatic-despatch system,a sender connected to a transmission-tubein combination with outer and inner gates adapted to open under the pressure of an inserted carrier, means for closing said gates when the carrier has passed them and means actuated by the insertion of a carrier into the sender for connecting the sender with an air-receptacle having substantially the pressure of the transmission-tube for the purpose of equalziing pressure on the inner gate.

2. Inapneumatic-despatchsystem,asender connected to a transmission-tube in combination with outer and inner gates adapted to open under the pressure of an inserted carrier, means for closing said gates when the carrier has passed them, means actuated by the insertion of a carrier into the sender for connecting the sender with an air-receptacle having substantially the pressure of the transmission-tube for the purpose of equalizing pressure on the inner gate and means for admitting atmospheric pressure to the sender actuated by the passage of the carrier from the sender.

3. In apneuinatic-despatch system,a sender connected to a transmission-tube in combination with outer and inner gates adapted to open under the pressure of an inserted carrier, means for closing said gates when the carrier has passed them and means actuated by the insertion of a carrier into the sender for connecting the sender with the transmission-tube for the purpose of equalizing pressure on the inner gate.

4. In apneumatic-despatch system a sender connected to a transmission-tube in combination with outer and inner gates adapted to open under the pressure of an inserted carrier, means for closing said gates when the carrier has passed them, means actuated by the insertion of a carrier into the sender for connecting the sender with the transmission-tube for the purpose of equalizing pressure on the innor gate and means for ad mitting atmospheric pressure to the sender actuated by the passage of the carrier from the sender.

5. In a pneumatic-despatch system,a sender connected to a transmission-tube in combination with outer and inner gates adapted to open under the pressure ofan inserted carrier, a valve mechanism arranged in one position to connect the sender with an air-receptacle having substantially the pressure of the transmission-tube and in another position to con nect the sender with atmospheric pressure, means actuated by the insertion of a carrier into thesender to shift said valve to the first position and means actuated by the passage of the carrier from the sender to shift said valve to the second position.

6. Inapneumatic-despatchsystem,a sender connected to a transmission-tube in combination with outer and inner gates adapted to open under the pressure of an inserted carrier, a valve mechanism arranged in one position to connect the sender with an air-receptacle having substantially the pressure of the transmission-tube and in another position to connect the sender with atmospheric pressure, means actuated by the opening and closing of the outer gate to shift said valve to the first position and means actuated by the opening and closing of the inner gate to shift said valve to the second position.

7. In a pneumatic-despatch system,a sender connected to a transmission-tube in combination with outer and inner gates adapted to open under the pressure of an inserted carrier, means for closing said gates when the carrier has passed them, means actuated by the in.- sertion of a carrier into the sender for connecting the sender with an air-receptacle having substantially the pressure of the transmission-tube for the purpose of equalizing pressure on the inner gate, means for admitting atmospheric pressure to the sender actuated by the passage of the carrier from the sender, and a restricted orifice in the atmospheric connection whereby the restoration of atmospheric pressure in the sender is made gradual.

8. Inapneumatic-despatch system,a sender connected to a transmission-tube in combination with outer and inner gates adapted to open under the pressure of an inserted carrier, means for closing said gates when the carrier has passed them means actuated by the insertion of a carrier into the sender for connecting the sender with an air-receptacle having substantially the pressure of the transmis sion-tube for the purpose of equalizing pressure on the inner gate, a lock for holding a gate closed set in operation by the passage of the carrierfromthe sender and a time escapement for withdrawing said lock.

BIRNEY O. BATOHELLER.

Witnesses:

CHAS. A. MYERS, D. STEWART. 

